New Music Friday: "Left It In The River" by Jamie MacDonald

There are moments in life when God’s grace feels so real, so tangible, that you know you’ll never be the same again. For Jamie MacDonald, that moment came at her own baptism, a sacred day when she publicly declared her faith in Jesus and left her past behind. Out of that powerful experience came her song “Left It In The River”, an anthem of redemption, freedom, and new life in Christ.

Jamie’s honesty runs through every lyric. She sings of the burdens she carried, the struggles she tried to overcome on her own, and the freedom she could never seem to find. But everything changed when she encountered Jesus:

My life was changed, When I stepped into the water, Ain’t seen my chains, Since I gave ’em to the Father Hallelujah, I’ve been delivered, Where is my guilt? Where is my shame? I left it in the river

This isn’t just Jamie’s story, it’s the story of every believer who has experienced the transforming power of God’s grace. Baptism is more than a symbol. It’s a declaration that the old life is gone, the chains are broken, and a brand-new life has begun.

Her words echo the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” That’s the heart of “Left It In The River.” The guilt, the shame, the weight of sin, all of it is washed away in the waters of God’s mercy.

Jamie reminds us that joy and freedom in Christ are unshakable:

Now, there’s nothing that can take this joy I’ve found, He raised me up and I ain’t coming down, He washed me clean and now there ain’t no doubt, He turned it all around

“Left It In The River” is more than just a personal testimony, it’s an invitation. An invitation to anyone longing for a fresh start, a clean slate, and a new beginning. It’s a reminder that no matter what you’ve carried, Jesus offers freedom that can never be taken away.

So if you’re weary from the weight of guilt or shame, let this song encourage you. Step into the water of God’s grace, let go of what once held you back, and leave it all in the river.

Because in Christ, you’re not who you used to be, you’re brand new.